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It was like stepping into a time machine and going back 62 years.
One of the Beatles was singing rock songs, playing two instruments, making jokes and having a grand old time.
The Ringo Starr concert here in Washington got me thinking about the impact that he, John, Paul and George had on the music business, the country and the culture — and how Americans are still fascinated by the Fab Four and even their grandchildren are listening to their ancient albums.
Ringo is 86 and touring again, bringing more energy to his shows than most of his Boomer-heavy audience.
RINGO STARR HAS EATEN THE SAME SIMPLE SANDWICH FOR DECADES — AND IT ONLY HAS 2 INGREDIENTS
Ringo Starr plays drums at a concert. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Paul McCartney, who I’ve seen several times in recent years, is 84, still belting out the hits and, hip guy that he is, sharing short videos on social media.
It’s not about money — the two surviving Beatles became multimillionaires back in the day. They are still releasing new albums; McCartney’s “Dungeon Lane,” about growing up in Liverpool, and with him playing most of the instruments, nearly matches some of his best work.
Ringo, who played drums and piano at the concert, has been saluted by today’s top drummers as having inspired generations of those behind the kit with his unique, left-handed, play-to-the-song style that doesn’t show off by overwhelming each tune.
So what does this say about us as a society?
It’s partly pure nostalgia, like a soup that reminds you of the way grandma made it.
For those who saw the group’s American debut on Ed Sullivan and remember the frenzy of Beatlemania — with screaming girls drowning out the group — it’s a throwback to the days when they were young and groovy and often spaced out. The swinging sixties were like that — and now many of those fans now talk about medications and doctors’ visits.
Some of the mystique is about the group’s incredible growth from “I Want to Hold Your Hand” to “Let It Be,” with such groundbreaking records as Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, the White Album and Abbey Road. (In those days, when record players dominated our lives, music reigned because there were no Apple Watches, no TikTok, no group chats, no Netflix, no distractions from vinyl other than mediocre TV.)
The Beatles performing on stage. (Harry Benson)
And it was the sheer quality launched by McCartney’s partnership with John Lennon, and its amazing variety.
If you wanted hard rock, there was “Ticket to Ride,” “Helter Skelter,” “Come Together” and “Back in the U.S.S.R.,” a Beach Boys spoof now geopolitically dated.
If you preferred soft ballads, there was Yesterday, Michelle and Norwegian Wood. The Beatles had a song for every mood.
There’s also a Beatles hype machine, releasing early versions of songs and old tunes, once in mono, amped up by modern technology.
This enabled the other Beatles to produce three new songs from old Lennon tapes provided by Yoko.
In every Beatles appearance, there was Starr and his drums on a riser behind the three guitarists, his beat driving the song but largely unnoticed by viewers and listeners.
RINGO STARR REVEALS THE ONE HUMBLE RITUAL THE BEATLES REFUSED TO QUIT EVEN AT THE HEIGHT OF FAME
Ringo, who was hospitalized as a boy and banged on anything that was available, got along with everyone while Paul, John and George were constantly “fussing and fighting, my friends.”
Consider this contrast: the Beatles’ fixation is the equivalent of a focus when Ringo joined them on music from 1898. I mean, seriously?
That, I think, was why I felt surging emotions at the Ringo concert. I knew I’d enjoy it; I didn’t expect to be utterly rocked, so to speak, by the drummer and his All-Star Band.
And let’s be honest: With two octogenarians still cranking it out, we wonder how much longer they’ll be healthy enough to entertain us.
Over the decades, the only performers who have come close to their onetime popularity are Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
Paul McCartney performs for fans during a concert. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
For now, it was a thrill to hear Ringo belt out “With a little help from my friends.” The surviving Beatles —Ringo and Paul did a duet on the Dungeon Lane album — feel like our friends.
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Ringo turned the searing spotlights on the audience, saying he wanted to see those who were cheering him. He jokingly said they could line up for handshakes after the concert.
Our friends — both on our part and the former mop tops — that’s the secret ingredient.